Draw From Life
Open Figure Sessions at McGuffey
NOTE REGARDING COVID-19: These ongoing sessions have taken a different format (reserved seating, smaller class sizes with social distancing and required masking). If you are interested in coming to join us for live figure drawing, please contact Robert Bricker robertebricker@yahoo.com.
As part of McGuffey’s on-going cultural services to the community of Charlottesville and surrounding counties, for $15-20, our three figure drawing sessions per week offer the opportunity to draw or paint from a live model.
The sessions are “instructionless”, and non-judgmental. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own odorless drawing, painting and sculpting materials and join in the fun. The groups consist of of all skill levels–beginners and experienced artists are welcome. Reserved seat access to the session requires an orientation session and an agreement with Robert Bricker. Reserved seating is per session and there is no commitment to continue. All sessions are fun, friendly, and supportive.
We have two 2-hour sessions - on Saturdays from 9:45am-noon for $15 and Sundays from 2pm-4pm for $15. We offer a special 3-hour LONG-POSE session on Sundays from 9:45am-1pm for a fee of $20 for attendees interested in painting or sculpting. It is crucial to arrive on-time as a form of respect to the proctor, model and other attendees, and also in order to hear announcements. Punctuality is also important because the building is locked to the public at the beginning of all three sessions, and we must let attendees in. And most importantly, there is a special trust between artist and model that must be honored. As nudity is involved, it is crucial that attendees maintain respect and distance. Cameras and photography are absolutely prohibited. Attendees are disallowed from contacting our models.
Ask for a parking permit at the front desk for daytime sessions. There are easels and chairs, but bring your own drawing materials.
PROCTORS FOR THE THREE WEEKLY SESSIONS:
Robert Bricker, Jean Sampson and Jing Shui.
LOCATION:
Site at Studio #1 or Starnes classroom at the discretion of the instructor each session.
Questions or interested in signing up? Contact:
Robert Bricker: robertebricker@yahoo.com
McGuffey Art Association Anti-Harassment Policy
McGuffey Art Association is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, McGuffey Art Association prohibits any association member, staff, student or visitor, from harassing and/or discriminating against any other member, staff person, visitor, student or model because of that person’s race, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender expression, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, or disabled status. Incidents of harassment and discrimination will be met with appropriate disciplinary action. This has been and is our standard practice but is now being formalized in writing for the reference of future proctors, drawing group leaders, participants and models.
McGuffey Art Association Live Model Policy
All proctors and drawing group leaders who utilize live models, given the inherent sensitive aspects of such activity, must be scrupulous in maintaining an appropriate professional, safe and welcoming atmosphere. Teachers and leaders should avoid any conduct, whether physical or verbal, that could be misinterpreted by a reasonable person, participant or witness, or that could otherwise cause discomfort on the part of the model or other participants in the activity. No such conduct shall be permitted by any participant either. Proctors and leaders should be welcoming and professional and phrase advice constructively and avoid all bullying or intimidating behavior.
The following excerpt is taken from Drawing Essentials: A Guide to Drawing from Observation (2009 Oxford University Press, New York) by Deborah Rockman, Kendall College of Art and Design:
Additional Classroom Rules When Drawing from a Model:
Modeling is hard work. Unless you have done it before, it is difficult to realize the challenges involved in modeling well. Everyone in the classroom deserves to be treated with respect, and this is especially true for the models who find themselves in an especially vulnerable position because they are nude and because all eyes are upon them.
The model’s personal space is to be respected, and you should never touch the model while he or she is at work. There are some instances, with the model’s permission, when it is appropriate for the instructor to make contact with the model in order to point something out, when teaching anatomy, when helping the model to get back to a particular pose, and so on. But the generally accepted notion is that under no circumstances should you, as a student, make contact with a model.
Under no circumstances should the instructor, leader or any participant make any comment about the physical appearance or any physical or assumed attributes of the model. Comments should be restricted to those that describe the artistic process, such as light, shadow, contour, rhythm, or similar.
The models, too, should be made aware of guidelines for their behavior. During a break, you can expect that the model will wear a robe or other cover until it is time to resume modeling. If you encounter an uncomfortable situation with a model, your best course of action would be to discuss the issue with your instructor who can address the issue with the model. In general, common sense and courtesy provide the best guidelines.